1907-1982
Rangitane
ROWING, RUGBY, RUGBY LEAGUE, TENNIS
Born in Wairau in 1907, his sporting career covered Rowing, Rugby and Rugby League, in all of which he attained national honours.
John also excelled at Tennis, Boxing, Shooting, Cycling, Table Tennis, Darts, Golf, Billiards and Snooker.
Rowing
1930 Empire Games, Canada – Gold in Fours, Silver in Eights
1932 L.A. Olympics – 4th in eights, NZ Flag Bearer
Rugby
1928 – 1935 Marlborough Rugby Team
1926 – 1927 Māori All Blacks to Australia, Ceylon, England, Wales, France and Canada
1927 Manawhenua (holders of the Ranfurly Shield)
1929 South Island
1929 All Blacks V Māori All Blacks (selected for both teams, advised to stand down)
1929 South Island Māori
1929,1931,1934,1935 Māori All Blacks to Australia
1941 – 1946 NZ Services Rugby Capt, Great Britain
1942 England Services Rugby team V Wales
Rugby League
Professional Rugby League in England
1935 – 1937 he played for Streatham & Mitcham (disbanded in March 1937)
1937 – 1938 Huddersfield
1938 – 1939 Keighley
1936, 1937, 1938, 1939 World Rugby League 13 (Dominions) versus France and Great Britain
Tennis
1941 – 1948 Captain of the NZ Services tennis team at Wimbledon.
Won a mixed doubles title at Wimbledon, but defaulted as he was a professional Rugby League player and Tennis was amateur.
Introduced Bob Falkenburg (USA services) to Wimbledon, trained regularly with Bob, Bob then went on to win the Wimbledon singles title in 1948
Billiards
Accomplished billiards player who beat the legendary Clark McConachy
Boxing
Hoani boxed as an amateur while in
London and sparred regularly with
professionals